'Mindless morons' or justified? Verdict on Ibrox walkout

Rangers fans with a banner at the game against St JohnstoneImage source, SNS
Image caption,

Some Rangers fans demonstrated with banners while others walked out

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A comfortable victory, albeit against the side at the bottom of the division, is not usually the backdrop to rancour - but that is exactly what happened at Ibrox on Sunday.

Rangers reduced the gap at the top of the Scottish Premiership to 15 points as they saw off St Johnstone on a weekend that Ibrox chief executive Patrick Stewart backed under-pressure manager Philippe Clement.

Some supporters groups, angered with the way the club is run, called for a walkout protest in the 55th minute and, with their side 3-0 up, a minority of fans left the stadium - accompanied by boos from their peers.

We asked you for your views on your side's weekend, and it was dominated by opinions from Rangers fans after this unprecedented development.

As a result, their views dominate the round-up, with a taste of the rest of the Premiership following below.

The big walkout debate

The action was justified...

Alexander Wallace: This team are incapable of producing anything for longer than 20 or 30 minutes. Against a better team, Rangers would have struggled. Passing was poor and defending sloppy. The three points hide nothing. I can't say I blame those that walked out; protests have to start somewhere and have to mean something. Reduced crowds next season?

Brian Robinson: I can understand why some supporters walked out in protest at what's going on - on and off the park. Even a 3-1 win against the bottom team in the league was not enough to convince these and many more supporters that things are better. The scoreline made Rangers look good. Will getting rid of the manager will that solve the problem? I doubt it.

Sally: The frustration of the fans was deserved. If the board are supporting Clement, give him the finance to make change.

...or, those leaving Ibrox were wrong

James Bannatyne: I don't get the reaction of some 'supporters'. We are getting what we requested. Lower weekly wages - yes. A younger team - yes. Transfer value - higher. Financial responsibility - improving. Rebuild - a good start, but at best halfway there. New board - happening. All completed in less than six months? Impossible!

John Cameron: A comfortable victory spoilt by the behaviour and actions of a minority of fans who were rightly booed by the real fans. Rangers are not the finished article, but have some excellent young players who need to be encouraged rather than demoralised.

Barry Hume: Mindless morons do not represent the club. They have been housed behind the goal to make positive noise. Shame on them and the club for moving long-term season ticket holders. They wear their black outfits and shout all game regardless of what is happening. Pathetic. Deactivate their tickets and move on with real fans going forward.

Ross: Only watched on from home, so maybe I missed something, but I thought it was a good performance (first half at least) and definitely an improvement as opposed to away games recently. I thought it was disgusting behaviour when the Bears walked out. You have a right to protest, but disheartening the players and manager during a game is a rubbish idea.

Anonymous: The disgruntled fans need to get a grip. Support our team and get behind them, not humiliate them. I've been a supporter a long time - 60+ years. You are a blue forever. I am married to a Celtic fan and he rejoices in our division.

Lennie: Three points in another game where the team only plays for 45 minutes. Did not agree with section of supporters leaving on the 55th minute but I agree that the manager should go now. This has to be one of the worst Rangers teams in a long, long while.

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Clement reacts to Rangers win

The big Clement debate

This is not a mess of the manager's making...

Anonymous: It will make no difference by changing the manager. No matter how you look at it, change needs to be done in the boardroom and Rangers need money to eliminate the existing debt and money to invest in new players. With Celtic spending big, they have set the standard - it's up to Rangers if they want to follow them. But fans will not accept this.

Paul Chambers: I kind of feel sorry for Clement in a way, he has had a lot to deal with - no CEO, no chairman, a new team getting used to the rough and tumble of the Scottish game... but fans expect results quickly. Give the man some time. We won't win the league this season, keep Europe going and we go again next season, then we can figure out where the team is at.

...some are not so convinced by the Belgian, though

Anonymous: Our only two quality players are Cerny and Igamane; Clement can't rely on them to keep his job, which should be filled by a different person. We need to show the board what the problem is, and fast.

Ian Moffat: A win, but Rangers need to win all their matches. Still mistakes are being made and still not convinced Clement is up to it. Wait until the Aberdeen match.

Murdo: Take Igamane and Cerny away and we have nothing. Also why play Cortes, who is a left-sided player, on the right and McCausland, who is a right-sided player, on the left? Clement looks like a desperate man now.

Richard Brown: We need a new management team ASAP - this result proves nothing. We are really poor, so the sooner a new team is in place, the better. This season is lost - time for a rebuild.

The best of the rest

Celtic fans are a predictably happy bunch...

Simon Whyte: I think that will go down as one our performances of the season at a notoriously difficult ground to visit. Despite the inhospitable conditions Celtic were fast, fluid and creative, midfield to attack was brilliant. Kyogo was outstanding in his changed role and position and big shout-out to Yang, who was relentless. What a team!

Not all St Johnstone supporters are without hope...

Jimmy: The shape of the team is wrong - players out of their best positions and the set-up looks "makeshift'. The signing of Andy Fisher appears to be a good one. He is a better 'keeper, but we still need a good defender and a proven goalscorer. I still have confidence we can escape the relegation spot, but that gap is getting wider.

Bryan Auchterlonie: Pretty much consigned to the championship. Plenty of possession with no real threat. Defensively very weak with only one pass mark player. Players won't fancy signing unless there is a big financial carrot. Can't even see current players being good enough for a tilt at the Championship. Very gloomy situation, but hope springs eternal.

Fergus: I was there on Saturday and think Simo can pull things round. We had 76% possession and 26 shots, so some key signings in January can turn that into points. Calamitous defending owing to no confidence in a goalkeeper out of his depth is the big factor here, and sadly we need to move on from Benji because his head is already elsewhere.

The Aberdeen verdict on their new signings...

Chris: The first half was good - more like us. We need a goalscorer however. I felt sorry for Okkels, he was not match fit, but Tobers did well. Starting line-up did well, midfield was really the engine room and Topi and Shinnie were standouts. Morris should have been on earlier, other changes except Duk were just tinkering. Solid at the back, but toothless.

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Kyogo's new role